Anvil assembly with sliding sleeve

ABSTRACT

An anvil assembly is provided. The anvil assembly includes an anvil center rod, a head assembly pivotally secured to the anvil center rod assembly from an operative position to a tilted position, and a sleeve slidably disposed about the anvil center rod. The sleeve is associated with the head assembly such that movement of the head assembly from the operative position towards the tilted position effects proximal movement of the sleeve about the anvil center rod.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to an anvil assembly which is suitable for use with a circular anastomosis stapler. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an anvil assembly having a tiltable head with a sliding sleeve.

2. Background of Related Art

Circular anastomosis staplers which include an anvil assembly having a tiltable anvil head are known in the art. One such circular anastomosis stapler is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0230581 (“'581 Publication”) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The anvil assembly includes an anvil head pivotally secured on a distal end of a connection post of the anvil assembly. The anvil assembly is provided to a clinician in an operable position, i.e., with the anvil head perpendicular to the connection post.

During an anastomosis procedure, a purse string suture may be used to attach first and/or second sections of the tissue being joined together about the connection post of the anvil assembly. Following the firing operation of the circular anastomosis stapler and as the anvil head is separated from the cartridge assembly of the circular stapler, the anvil head pivots about the distal end of the connection post, to reduce the profile of the anvil head. The anvil assembly may be spring loaded to automatically tilt the anvil head to a maximum angle allowed by the circular stapler and/or anvil head geometry. Tilting the anvil head to reduce the profile of the anvil head within a vessel minimizes contact between the anvil head and the inner walls of the vessel to facilitate removal of the anvil head through an anastomosis ring, i.e., the annular stapled section of tissue, formed by the stapler.

In certain instances, an anastomosis donut, i.e., the tissue severed by an annular knife of the stapling assembly during an anastomosis procedure and the purse string suture(s), if used to secure the tissue section(s) about the anvil assembly, and/or other tissue or obstruction may become pinched by the anvil head as the anvil head is pivoted. When this occurs, the anvil head is inhibited from fully tilting. As a result, the anvil head may contact the interior of the vessel to a greater extent than necessary during withdrawal of the anvil head through the anastomosis ring. Contact of the interior of the vessel may cause unwanted tissue damage (i.e., damage to the anastomosis ring) and/or may result in higher refraction forces being necessary during removal of the anvil head through the vessel.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to have an anvil assembly including a sleeve configured to reposition the anastomosis donut to prevent pinching of the anastomosis donut by the tiltable anvil head, and, thus, allow complete tilting of the anvil head.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an improved anvil assembly is provided. The anvil assembly includes an anvil center rod, a head assembly pivotally secured to the anvil center rod assembly from an operative position to a tilted position, and a sleeve slidably disposed about the anvil center rod. The sleeve is associated with the head assembly such that movement of the head assembly from the operative position towards the tilted position effects proximal movement of the sleeve about the anvil center rod.

In some embodiments, the sleeve assembly includes a sleeve body disposed about the anvil center rod assembly and a distally extending flange pivotally connected to the head assembly. A living hinge may be formed between the flange and the sleeve body. The head assembly may include a pivotal cam latch member and the flange is pivotally connected to the cam latch member.

In embodiments, the head assembly may include a housing, a post, a backup plate, and a cam latch member. The backup plate may be positioned to prevent pivotal movement of the head assembly from the non-tilted position to the tilted position prior to firing of a surgical stapling device. The backup plate may be movable to a second position to permit pivotal movement of the head assembly in relation to the anvil center rod assembly from the non-tilted position to the tilted position. The anvil head assembly may include a post which is pivotally secured to the anvil center rod, the sleeve member is operably engaged to the post. The sleeve member may be operably positioned to be engaged by the anvil assembly as the anvil assembly is pivoted from the operative position to the tilted position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed tilt anvil assembly are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a surgical stapling device including an anvil assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 1, with the head assembly in a second or tilted position subsequent to firing of the surgical stapling device;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a cam latch member of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a retainer member of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the sleeve member of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 2-5;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional bottom view taken along line 6A-6A shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional top view taken along line 6B-6B shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional end view taken along line 6C-6C shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional end view taken along line 6D-6D shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 2-5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of the portion of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 7, with the sleeve member removed;

FIG. 9 is a perspective side view of the anvil assembly shown with the head assembly in a first or operable position;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 9, in the first or operable position pre-firing;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the operable position subsequent to firing;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 9-11, with the head assembly in the second or tilted position;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a portion of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 9-12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective side view of an anvil assembly according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, in a first or operable position;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a slide member of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 14 and 15;

FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional bottom view taken along line 16A-16A shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional top view taken along line 16B-16B shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16C is a cross-sectional end view taken along line 16C-16C shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 16D is a cross-sectional end view taken along line 16D-16D shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the anvil assembly shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in a second or tilted position;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view an anvil assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in a first or operable position; and

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of the anvil assembly shown in FIG. 19, in a second or tilted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the presently disclosed anvil assembly will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As is common in the art, the term “proximal” refers to that part or component closer to the user or operator, i.e. surgeon or clinician, while the term “distal” refers to that part or component further away from the user.

FIGS. 1-13 illustrate a tiltable anvil assembly 10 which is suitable for use with a surgical stapling device 100 for performing surgical procedures, such as, for example, circular anastomoses of hollow tissue organs and hemorrhoid surgeries. With initial reference to FIG. 1, surgical stapling device 100 includes a proximal handle assembly 102, an elongated central body portion 104 including a curved elongated outer tube 104 a, and a distal head portion 106. Alternately, in some surgical procedures, e.g., the treatment of hemorrhoids, it is desirable to have a substantially straight, shortened, central body portion. The length, shape and/or the diameter of body portion 104 and distal head portion 106 may be varied to suit a particular surgical procedure. Detailed descriptions of surgical stapler 100 are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,364,060 and 7,303,106 (“the '060 Patent” and “the '106 Patent”), the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, anvil assembly 10 includes a head assembly 12, a center rod assembly 14, and a sleeve member 15. Sleeve member 15 is configured to reposition an anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction (not shown) about center rod assembly 14 following the firing of surgical stapling device 100 to allow head assembly 12 to pivot relative to center rod assembly 14 without pinching the anastomosis donut between head assembly 12 and center rod assembly 14 as described in further detail below. As described above, an anastomosis donut is the tissue severed from the anastomosis site by an annular knife of a circular stapling device during an anastomosis procedure using a circular stapling device.

In one embodiment, head assembly 12 includes a post 16, a housing 18, a backup member or plate 20, a cutting ring 22, a cutting ring cover 23, an anvil plate 24, a cam latch member 26, and a retainer member 27. As shown, post 16 is monolithically formed with and centrally positioned within head 18. Alternatively, post 16 and head 18 may be formed as separate that are joined using, adhesives, welding or any other suitable method. As will be described in further detail below, post 16 includes a pair of nubs 16 a (FIG. 8) configured to engage anvil center rod assembly 14 to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of head assembly 12 relative to anvil center rod assembly 14. Anvil plate 24 is supported in an outer annular recess 28 (FIG. 3) of housing 18 and includes a plurality of staple deforming pockets 30 for receiving and deforming staples (not shown). At least one tab 24 a extends radially outwardly from anvil plate 24 and is received within a cutout 32 formed in an outer rim of housing 18. Tab 24 a and cutout 32 function to align or properly position anvil plate 24 within annular recess 28 of housing 18.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, backup plate 20 includes a central opening 34 which is positioned about post 16 within an inner annular recess 36 of housing 18 between post 16 and outer annular recess 28. Backup plate 20 includes a raised platform 20 a. Cutting ring 22 includes an opening 22 a having a configuration substantially the same as platform 20 a. In one embodiment, cutting ring 22 is formed from polyethylene, or other suitable plastic, and is fixedly secured to backup plate 20 using, for example, an adhesive, to form a backup plate/cutting ring assembly. Backup plate 20 is formed from a hard material, e.g., a metal. Alternately other materials of construction may be used to construct backup plate 20 and cutting ring 22. Further, backup plate 20 and cutting ring 22, in the alternative, may be formed as a single or unitary structure.

A cutting ring cover 23 may be secured to an outwardly facing or proximal surface 40 of cutting ring 22 using, for example, an adhesive. Cutting ring 22 and backup plate 20 are slidably mounted about post 16. Backup plate 20 includes a pair of inwardly extending fingers 38 which will be described in further detail below. Retainer member 27 is positioned in inner annular recess 36 between backup plate 20 and a back wall 18 a of housing 18 and prevents backup plate 20 and cutting ring 22 from moving or being pushed into inner annular recess 36 of housing 18 until a predetermined force sufficient to deform tabs 27 a has been applied to the backup plate/cutting ring assembly. The predetermined force may be close to but is less than the force applied by an annular cutting blade of a surgical stapling device when it engages, for example, the cutting ring of anvil assembly 10. When the predetermined force is reached, e.g., during cutting of tissue, backup plate 20 is urged into inner annular recess 36 and compresses tabs 27 a of retainer member 27.

Anvil center rod assembly 14 includes a center rod 52, a plunger 54, and ph spring 56. A first end of center rod 52 has a pair of arms 59 which define a cavity 59 a. Each arm 59 has a transverse throughbore 58 which is aligned with a central longitudinal axis of center rod 52. Post 16 of anvil head assembly 12 is dimensioned to be positioned within cavity 59 a and includes a transverse throughbore 60. A pivot ember 62 pivotably secures post 16 to center rod 52 via throughbores 58 and 60 such that anvil head assembly 12 is pivotably mounted to anvil center rod assembly 14.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, cam latch member 26 includes a body 26 a having a throughbore 26 b. Throughbore 26 b is dimensioned to receive pivot member 62 such that cam latch member 26 is pivotally mounted within transverse slot 72 (FIG. 3) of post 16 about pivot member 62. As shown in FIG. 4, cam latch member 26 includes a first body portion 26 c which extends partially from slot 72 (FIG. 3) of post 16 and is positioned to be engaged by finger 66 of plunger 54. Cam latch member 26 also includes an edge 26 f which is urged into engagement with an inner periphery of backup plate 20 (FIG. 10) by finger 66 of plunger 54 when anvil head 12 is in the non-tilted or operative position. Cam latch member 26 further includes a connector portion 26 g which defines a throughbore 2611 dimensioned to receive a pivot member 94 (FIG. 6) of sleeve member 15 such that cam latch member 26 is pivotally secured to sleeve member 15. Alternatively, cam latch member 26 and sleeve member 15 may be connected by a pivot member (not shown) extending from connector portion 26 g of cam latch member 26 into engagement with an opening (not shown) formed in sleeve member 15.

Referring to FIG. 10, plunger 54 is slidably positioned in a bore 64 formed in the first end of center rod 52. Plunger 54 includes an engagement finger 66 which is offset from the pivot axis of anvil head assembly 12 and is biased into engagement with an edge 26 c of cam latch member 26. As will be described in further detail below, engagement of finger 66 with edge 26 c of cam latch member 26 presses edge 26 f against an inner periphery of back plate 20 and post 16 to urge anvil head assembly 12 to the pivoted or tilted position (FIG. 12) on center rod 52. In the pre-fired position, fingers 38 formed on backup plate 20 are positioned adjacent top surface 52 a and protrusions 52 b of center rod 52 to prevent anvil head assembly 12 from pivoting about pivot member 62 (FIG. 7). When anvil assembly 10 is attached to surgical stapling device 100 (FIG. 1) and the device is fired in the manner described in the '106 Patent, backup plate 20 and cutting ring 22 are pushed into inner annular recess 36 of housing 18 about post 16, in the direction indicated by arrow “A” in FIG. 11, by a knife blade (not shown). When this occurs, fingers 38 move into annular recess 36 away from top surface 52 a and protrusions 52 b of center rod 52 to permit plunger 54 (FIG. 11) to pivot anvil head assembly 12 about pivot member 62. Retainer member 27 prevents inadvertent or premature movement of backup plate 20 into inner annular recess 36 to prevent premature or inadvertent tilting of anvil head assembly 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 10, a second end of center rod 52 includes a bore 80 defined by a plurality of flexible arms 82. Flexible arms 82 each include an opening 82 a dimensioned to receive a projection firmed on or connected to a removable trocar (not shown) or the like. The distal ends of each of flexible arms 82 include an internal shoulder 84 (FIG. 10) dimensioned to releasably engage an anvil retainer (not shown) of a surgical stapling device 100 (FIG. 1) to secure anvil assembly 10 to surgical stapling device 100. A plurality of splines 86 are formed about center rod 52. Splines 86 function to align anvil assembly 10 with the staple holding portion of surgical stapling device 100.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 6-6D, sleeve member 15 includes a sleeve body 90 and a flange 92 extending distally from sleeve body 90. Sleeve body 90 is substantially tubular and is configured to be received about a distal end of center rod 52 (FIG. 7) of center rod assembly 14 and to extend across the tissue gap defined between anvil plate 24 and a distal end of shell assembly 108 (FIG. 1). Sleeve body 90 is sized and dimensioned to slide proximally, as indicated by arrows “C” in FIG. 13, from a distal-most first position on center rod 52 when anvil assembly 10 is in the first or operable position (FIG. 9) to a proximal position on center rod 52 (FIG. 13) as head assembly 12 pivots relative to anvil center rod assembly 14.

Sleeve body 90 optionally includes annular lips 90 a, 90 b formed on proximal and distal ends, respectively Annular lips 90 a, 90 b are configured to maintain the anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction (not shown) about sleeve body 90 as sleeve body 90 is moved proximally about center rod 52 during pivoting of head assembly 12 from the operable position to the tilted position. As described above, during an anastomosis procedure, the first and/or second sections of the tissue being joined (not shown) may be secured to anvil assembly 10 using a purse string suture(s) (not shown). The purse string suture(s) facilitate positioning and securing of the anastomosis donut about sleeve body 90. Sleeve body 90 defines notch 91 configured to accommodate post 16 and cam latch member 26 (FIG. 3) of head assembly 12 when sleeve body 90 is in the first, distal-most position (FIG. 9). Sleeve body 90 further defines a longitudinal slot 93 configured to accommodate finger 66 of plunger 54 of anvil center rod assembly 14 when sleeve body 90 is in the first, distal-most position (FIG. 9).

Flange 92 extends distally from sleeve body 90 and engages cam latch member 26 of head assembly 12. A first end 92 a of flange 92 forms a living hinge with sleeve body 90 to permit flexing of flange 92 relative to sleeve body 90. A second end 92 b of flange 92 is pivotally secured to connector portion 26 g (FIG. 4) of cam latch member 26 of head assembly 12. As shown, flange 92 includes a pivot member 94 which is pivotally received within throughbore 26 h formed in connector portion 26 g of cam latch member 26. As noted above, in an alternative embodiment, cam latch member 26 may instead include a pivot member (not shown) configured for reception within an opening (not shown) defined by flange 92 of sleeve body 90. Flange 92 is slidably supported adjacent center rod 52 between sleeve member 15 and cam latch member 26 as cam latch member 26 is pivoted by finger 66 of plunger 54 during pivoting of head assembly 12 from the first position (FIG. 9) to the second position (FIG. 12). As cam latch member 26 pivots from the first position to the second position, the connection between connector portion 26 g and flange 92 results in sleeve body 90 moving proximally, as indicated by arrows “C” in FIG. 13, from a distal-most position about center rod 52 to a proximal position. As described above, proximal movement of sleeve body 90 about center rod 52 relocates an anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction (not shown) formed during the anastomosis procedure to prevent pinching of the anastomosis donut, tissue and/or obstruction by head assembly 12 as head assembly 12 is pivoted to a tilted position (FIG. 12).

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, when anvil assembly 10 is in the prefired non-tilted position, backup plate 20 is spaced from back wall 18 a of housing 18 by retainer 27 and fingers 38 of backup plate 20 are positioned adjacent top surface 52 a and protrusion 52 b of center rod 52 to prevent tilting of anvil head assembly 12 about pivot member 62. In the non-tilted position, sleeve body 90 covers the tilting mechanism, i.e., post 16 and cam latch member 26 of head assembly 12 and arms 59 of center rod 52 and pivot member 62, of tiltable anvil assembly 10.

Still referring to FIG. 10, finger 66 of plunger 54 is urged by spring 56 into engagement with body portion 26 c of cam latch member 26 and post 16 to urge cam latch member 26 and head assembly 12 in a clockwise direction about pivot member 62 such that edge 26 f of cam latch member 26 engages an inner periphery 20 b of backup member 20 and anvil head assembly 12 move towards the tilted position (FIG. 12). The tilting of tiltable anvil assembly 10 facilitates insertion and/or removal of the anvil assembly to/from a hollow organ.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, when anvil assembly 10 is attached to a stapling device 100 (FIG. 1) and the device is fired, a knife blade (not shown) of the stapling device engages cutting ring 22 to move cutting ring 22 (FIG. 3) and backup plate 20 in the direction indicated by arrow “A” in FIG. 11 into annular recess 36 of housing 18 of anvil head assembly 12. When this occurs, deformable tabs 27 a (FIG. 3) of retainer 27 are deformed against back wall 18 a of housing 18 and fingers 38 of backup member 20 move away from top surface 52 a and protrusions 52 b of center rod 52. Thereafter, engagement of plunger 54 with cam latch member 26 and subsequently with post 16 rotates cam latch member 36 and anvil head assembly 12 towards the tilted position (FIG. 12). It is noted that anvil head assembly 12 will not immediately tilt upon firing of stapling device 100 (FIG. 1) because, upon firing, anvil head assembly 12 is in an approximated position, i.e., the anvil head assembly 12 is in close alignment with shell assembly 108 (FIG. 1) of surgical stapling device 100 (FIG. 1). As such, the anvil head assembly 12 will begin to tilt as anvil head assembly 12 and shell assembly 108 of the stapling device 100 are unapproximated.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, as anvil head assembly 12 pivots wards its tilted position, linger 66 of plunger 54 maintains surface 26 e of cam latch member 26 in contact with backup plate 20 to prevent backup plate 20 from sticking to the knife blade as the knife blade is retracted. It is noted that curved surface 26 e of cam latch member is configured to eliminate any gap and ensure contact between surface 26 e of cam latch member 26 and backup plate 20 to hold backup plate 20 in place during and after the knife blade is retracted such that the cutting ring and backup plate assembly stay in their correct position during tilting of anvil assembly 12.

As anvil head assembly 12 pivots towards the tilted position, pivotal engagement of flange 92 of sleeve member 15 with cam latch member 26 causes sleeve body 90 to slide proximally about center rod 52 of anvil center rod assembly 14. More particularly, the pivoting of cam latch member 26 applies a proximal force to sleeve body 90 through flange 92 to effect linear movement of sleeve body 90 about center rod 52. More specifically, the pivotal engagement between flange 92 and cam latch member 26 and the living hinge formed between flange 92 and sleeve body 90 allow flange 92 to flex to translate the pivoting motion of cam latch member 26 into a proximal linear motion of sleeve body 90. In this manner, the anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction (not shown) received about sleeve body 90 is moved proximally away from head assembly 12, to prevent pinching of the anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction between head assembly 12 and anvil center rod assembly 14. As described above, annular lips 90 a, 90 b formed on proximal and distal ends, respectively, of sleeve body 90 engage the anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction to facilitate movement of the donut/tissue/obstruction away from the tilting mechanism.

Although shown and described as being operably connected to cam latch member 26, it is envisioned that sleeve body 90 of sleeve member 15 may instead be operably connected to post 16 of head assembly 12 of anvil assembly 10. Furthermore, although shown as relates to anvil assembly 10, it is envisioned that the aspects of the present disclosure may be modified for use with any anvil assembly having an anvil head capable of being pivoted from a first, operable position, to a second, tilted position.

With reference now to FIGS. 14-18, an alternative embodiment of a tiltable anvil assembly according to the present disclosure is shown generally as anvil assembly 110. Anvil assembly 110 is substantially similar to anvil assembly 10 described hereinabove and will only be described as relates to the differences therebetween. Anvil assembly 110 includes a head assembly 112, an anvil center rod assembly 114, and a sleeve member 115.

Head assembly 112 includes a housing 118 and a post 116. Post 116 includes a tab 116 a and an engagement surface 116 b. Tab 116 a of post 116 is configured to be loosely received within an opening 191 formed in a sleeve body 190 of sleeve member 115 when anvil assembly 110 is in a first or operable position (the non-tilted position; see FIGS. 14 and 15). Engagement surface 116 b of post 116 is configured to engage a distal end 190 b of sleeve body 190 as head assembly 112 pivots relative to anvil center rod assembly 114. It is envisioned that post 116 may further include a cam surface for engagement by finger 166 of plunger 154 (FIG. 15).

Sleeve member 115 includes sleeve body 190. Sleeve body 190 includes a substantially tubular member configured to be slidably received about a distal portion of anvil center rod assembly 114 in a sliding manner. Although not shown, sleeve member 115 may include a lip formed about one or both of proximal and distal ends 190 a, 190 b to facilitate retention of an anastomosis donut (not shown) about sleeve body 190. As noted above, sleeve body 190 defines an opening 191 adjacent a distal end configured to selectively receive tab 116 a of post 116 of head assembly 112. As also noted above, a distal end 190 b of sleeve body 190 is configured to be engaged by engagement portion 116 b of post 116 of head assembly 112 during pivoting of head assembly 112 from the first or operable position (FIGS. 14 and 15) to a second or tilted position (FIGS. 17 and 18). It is envisioned that engagement portion 116 b of post 116 may be shaped as a cam surface.

As described above with respect to anvil assembly 10, subsequent to firing of stapling device 100, head assembly 112 of anvil assembly 110 is configured to pivot relative to anvil center rod assembly 114. As head assembly 112 pivots to the second tilted position, tab 116 a formed on post 116 of head assembly 112 is withdrawn from within opening 191 formed in sleeve body 190 of sleeve assembly 115. As tab 116 a is withdrawn from opening 191, engagement surface 116 b of post 116 engages distal end 190 b of sleeve body 190. Engagement of sleeve body 190 by engagement surface 116 b of post 116 moves sleeve body 190 in a proximal direction. In this manner, an anastomosis donut (not shown) received about sleeve body 190 is moved proximally away from head assembly 112, to prevent pinching of the anastomosis donut and/or other tissue or obstruction between head assembly 112 and anvil center rod assembly 114 as head assembly 112 is pivoted to the tilted position.

With reference now to FIGS. 19 and 20, a tiltable anvil assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown generally as anvil assembly 210. Anvil assembly 210 is substantially similar to anvil assemblies 10 and 110 described hereinabove, and therefore will only be described as relates to the differences therebetween. Anvil assembly 210 includes a head assembly 212 and an anvil center rod assembly 214. As will be described in further detail below, anvil assembly 210 may be modified for use with either of the above disclosed sleeve members 15 (FIG. 6), 115 (FIG. 16).

Head assembly 212 includes a housing 218, a post 216, and a cam latch member 226. Post 216 and cam latch member 226 may be integrally formed. Anvil center rod assembly 214 includes a center rod 252, a plunger 254, and plunger spring 256, Head assembly 212 is pivotally secured to center rod 252 by a pivot pin 262 which is received within a transverse throughbore (not shown) defined by post 216 and a pair of arms 259 of center rod 252. Cam latch member 226 defines a bore 258 which also receives pivot pin 262 to pivotally secure cam latch member 226 about pivot pin 262.

Transverse throughbore 258 is offset, i.e., laterally spaced, relative to a central longitudinal axis “x” of center rod 252, as indicated by reference character “y” in FIG. 19. By offsetting pivot pin 262 relative to central longitudinal axis “x”, the distance between pivot pin 262 and a finger 266 of plunger 254, as indicated by reference character “z” in FIG. 19, is increased Increasing the distance between pivot pin 262 and plunger 254 increases the tilting torque applied to head assembly 212 by plunger 254 without increasing the outer diameter of center rod 252. Increasing the tilting torque applied to head assembly 212 by plunger 254 increases the head tilting performance of anvil assembly 210. In particular, the offset arrangement of pivot pin 262 relative to longitudinal axis “x” permits the pivoting of head assembly 212 relative to anvil center rod assembly 214 when tissue or other obstruction disposed between head assembly 212 and anvil center rod assembly 214 might otherwise prevent head assembly 212 from pivoting relative to center rod assembly 214.

Anvil assembly 210 operates in a similar manner to anvil assemblies 10 and 110, described hereinabove. In particular, following actuation of surgical stapling device 100 (FIG. 1), engagement of a finger 266 of plunger 254 with cam latch member 226 rotates cam latch member 226 within housing 218 such that cam latch member 226 engages backup plate 220 to hold backup plate 220 in place as a knife blade (not shown) of surgical stapling device 10 (FIG. 1) is retracted. Finger 266 of plunger 254 also engages post 216 of head assembly 212 to cause pivoting of head assembly 212 relative to anvil center rod assembly 214 as head assembly 212 is moved away from shell assembly 108 (FIG. 1) of surgical stapling device 10 (FIG. 1).

In an alternative embodiment, an outer diameter of center rod 252 may be increased to accommodate a plunger (not shown) having a finger (not shown) that is spaced further from longitudinal axis “x” to increase the distance between pivot pin 262 and the finger of the plunger, thereby increasing the tilting torque applied by the finger to head assembly 212.

Any of the above disclosed embodiments may be modified for use with the surgical stapling instruments disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/444,998 filed Apr. 12, 2012 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915, 953 filed Jun. 12, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the presently disclosed sleeve assemblies may be modified for use on an anvil assembly having a head assembly capable of one hundred and twenty degrees (120°) of tilt, i.e., capable of being pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction prior to firing to facilitate positioning of the anvil assembly within a lumen. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An anvil assembly comprising: an anvil center rod assembly; a head assembly pivotally secured to the anvil center rod assembly from an operative position to a tilted position; and a sleeve slidably disposed about the anvil center rod assembly, the sleeve being associated with the head assembly such that movement of the head assembly from the operative position towards the tilted position effects proximal movement of the sleeve about the anvil center rod assembly.
 2. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve assembly includes a sleeve body disposed about the anvil center rod assembly and a distally extending flange pivotally connected to the head assembly.
 3. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the head assembly includes a housing, a post, a backup plate, and a cam latch member.
 4. The anvil assembly of claim 3, wherein the backup plate is positioned to prevent pivotal movement of the head assembly from the non-tilted position to the tilted position prior to firing of a surgical stapling device.
 5. The anvil assembly of claim 4, wherein the backup plate is movable to a second position to permit pivotal movement of the head assembly in relation to the anvil center rod assembly from the non-tilted position to the tilted position.
 6. The anvil assembly of claim 2, wherein a living hinge is formed between the flange and the sleeve body.
 7. The anvil assembly of claim 2, wherein the head assembly includes a pivotal cam latch member and the flange is pivotally connected to the cam latch member.
 8. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the anvil head assembly includes a post which is pivotally secured to the anvil center rod assembly, the sleeve member is operably engaged to the post.
 9. The anvil assembly of claim 8, wherein the sleeve member is operably positioned to be engaged by the head assembly as the head assembly is pivoted from the operative position to the tilted position.
 10. The anvil assembly of claim 1, wherein the head assembly is pivotally secured to the anvil center rod assembly about a pivot pin, wherein the pivot pin is offset from the longitudinal axis of the anvil center rod. 